October 2018

This month’s cover photo, by Rich LaBella, is dedicated to Rob Roden of East Hampton, NY founder of The Captain’s Guide, who crossed the bar in August. Rob also founded the Antigua and Barbuda Hamptons Challenge, which is featured on the cover. Rob was very proud that this event had the largest prize of any amateur sailing event on the East Coast, and likely anywhere at all. The winning team earns free flights, accommodations and a boat to race at Antigua Sailing Week in the spring. Sadly, Rob died at his sister’s home in Hampton Bays just a couple of weeks before the event.

The class daysailers of my time, and even the 7-11 Dyer Dhow, also served as social places. You could take a girl (or vice versa) out on an afternoon sail and she, or he, didn’t need to strap in to hike, or wear a trapeze harness or wetsuit. Much has been written lately, in your publication and others, about the attrition of young people from sailing. Some are bored, a few are traumatized. But overall, unless the lore, camaraderie, and sense of adventure and exploration of the ocean and the planet are incorporated into teaching sailing, this problem will continue.

An event management consultant who lives in Newport, Rhode Island, Samantha Crichton grew up on her family’s 55,000-acre station (ranch) in the Australian Outback, a long, long way from the City by the Sea and the world of sailing.

Fast forward to Labor Day weekend, 2018. Your two kids are aboard the J/105 Young American for the Vineyard Race. They are jilling around in the starting area off the Cows bell south of Stamford breakwater. They’ve been captured by the joys of sailing that you’ve shared, both as stories and taking them sailing with you and the missus ever since they were born. They seem so much more advanced and mature for their ages – 15 and 16 – than many of their contemporaries who do not sail. In fact, the entire crew of Young American exhibit a similar level of maturity, understanding and mateship far beyond their calendar years. Watching your kids, and the rest of the YA roster, come to grips with the nuances of life, big and small, through sailing brings a smile to your face and a warm glow of pride and satisfaction to your inner self.

Over 120 former members of the Junior Yacht Racing Association of Long Island Sound gathered on Saturday, September 8, 2018 under the Pandemonium at Larchmont Yacht Club, scene of many great dances during their junior sailing days. The day began, naturally, with racing in Ideal 18s provided by LYC. Each team had a special connection – lifelong sailing pals Rich duMoulin and Elliot Oldak (both Knickerbocker YC); Instructor Bill Sandberg (American) and pupil Lili Jenkins (Noroton); the…

With an abiding, lifelong love of Lake Michigan inspired by the gift of A Childs’ Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson when she was a child, Mary McKSchmidt met the man she would marry, a self-described “boataholic” named Rubin, shortly after graduating from Michigan State University and was soon crewing on his Hobie Cat. Larger boats and adventures throughout the lakes would follow over the next three decades.

We had quite a few challenges on Jason Carroll’s new MOD70 trimaran Argo. First and foremost, the boat was purchased just three weeks prior to the race and was in Lorient, France.

Sparkman & Stephens has announced that Donald Tofias, of Newport, RI, has purchased the iconic yacht design and brokerage firm. Tofias will assume the role of President of the firm, having purchased 100% of the assets. Tofias is a lifelong sailor and founder of the W-Class Yacht Company.

Susan Maffei Plowden of Jamestown, RI was presented with the 2018 Anchor Award at the Rhode Island Marine Trade Association’s Industry Partnership Breakfast. The event was sponsored by Gowrie Group and held during the Newport International Boat Show last month.

US Sailing has added a new member to its leadership team with the hiring of sports marketing and branding professional Peter Glass. As Chief Marketing Officer, the Chappaqua, NY native will lead US Sailing’s Marketing and Communications Department.